Sudhakar Sahoo

Born on 1 January 1935 in Baidya Kateni village of Dhenkanal district in Odisha, Shri Sudhakar Sahoo received his initial training in Odissi music under his father, Duryodhan Sahoo, and in Gotipua dance from Duryodhan Mohanty and Jayaram Kundu. Later, he received his advanced training in Odissi dance under guru Debaprasad Das. He has also studied under guru Babaji Padnav Das and Mohan Mohapatra.
Shri Sudhakar Sahoo has established himself as a reputed dancer and a teacher of Odissi dance. He has trained numerous artists at several institutions such as Baripada Kala Parishad, Sambalpur Kala Parishad, Sadhana Dance Academy in Bhubaneswar, Keonjhar Kala Kendra, and Kala Bikash Kendra in Chhatrapur. He took the initiative to impart training in Bandha Nritya to female students in Odisha, and continues to train dancers at Nrutya Sangeeta Kala Mandir in Balasore. In the early 1950s, Shri Sahoo joined reputed theatre groups such as Annapurna Theatre and Janata Ranga Mancha, and was noted for his role as a dancer. He has performed in the dance-dramas directed by his guru Debaprasad Das such as Sarat Rasa and travelled extensively with him for performances. Shri Sudhakar Sahoo has also choreographed several dance-dramas like Chandaluni, Konark, Manini, Chandrabhaga, Madana Bhasma, Puspita and Urvashi.
For his work in the field of dance, Shri Sudhakar Sahoo has been bestowed several honours including the Orissa Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1992), Guru Debaprasad Das Samman (2013), and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award (2014).
Shri Sudhakar Sahoo receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Odissi dance.